It's a common problem: scalps produce oil and sebum so
Sebum production is controlled by our hormones, so a sudden surge in scalp oil production could be down to hormonal changes. If you've recently gone through a major life event that's known to have an impact on your hormone levels, this may be having a knock-on effect on the amount of sebum your scalp is producing.
Greasy hair may be a symptom of an underlying scalp condition that causes excessive sebum secretion. This often leads to itching, redness, and seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff). However, people with any skin type can produce too much oil if they do not take proper care of their scalp and hair.
Hair and puberty
These are both likely caused by the sex hormone testosterone, which is a major player in both female and male reproductive development. Testosterone is thought to increase the production of sebum which is the substance that can make both skin and hair feel oily.
Greasy hair after washing may be due to a person's hair care routine, an overproduction of sebum, environmental factors, or underlying health conditions. People may be able to stop hair from becoming greasy as quickly by using a gentle clarifying shampoo and lightweight, non-greasy hair products.
Not Getting Enough B Vitamins
"A sufficient intake of the B vitamins, particularly of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), can help combat greasy hair by regulating sebum production," the site explained.
Modern lifestyles have led to an increase in anxiety and stress levels, making them one of the most common causes of oily hair. “Stress causes your cortisol levels to rise. Cortisol stresses out the oil glands to produce more sebum, naturally leading to oily hair,” explains Sethi.
Lifestyle and diet changes to fix oily hair
Your diet should consist of foods rich in vitamin B, especially B2 and B6. It is believed that these components in your diet can help keep your sebum production in control. So, consider adding foods like leafy vegetables, pulses, and seaweed.
Fact: Conditioner is not only OK for oily hair types to use but it's also necessary. It provides a healthy dose of hydration, nourishment, and protection that your locks can't get from shampoo alone.
Although there's no hard evidence that points to an oily scalp as a direct cause of hair loss, it can play a role in an unhealthy scalp environment. Your scalp is skin just like the rest of your body. This means your scalp has sebaceous glands in the pores which produce natural oils called sebum.
While it may seem counterintuitive, a dehydrated scalp can actually cause your hair to look greasy; your skin's protective measure of producing that excess sebum can weigh down your hair, making it look and feel oily and flat.
If you have oily hair, it's okay to wash it every day if you use a mild shampoo and a good conditioner after every wash. If possible, you can stretch the time between washes by using dry shampoo. But if you have oily hair and work out, you may feel more comfortable just washing your hair daily.
People with oily hair or who use hair care products daily should consider washing their hair once every 1–2 days. People with dry hair can wash their hair less frequently. Those with textured or coily hair should only wash it once every 1–2 weeks.
Rossi generally tells his patients they should wash their hair once or twice per week. But if you've had chemical treatments that can make your hair drier — such as bleach, perms or relaxers — you might want to wash it less than once weekly to avoid breaking or brittle hair or split ends, he said.
If you're wondering the difference between a greasy scalp and an oily scalp, rest assured there isn't one — both are a function of too much oil being produced on the scalp or too little oil being eliminated, explains Dr.
"You can train your scalp to be less greasy in the course of three to four days, however, it will take some time for your body to fully adjust," Potempa says. "Take some time to do research about the type of hair you have and establish a new routine that gives your body enough time to adjust to the change."
Arrowroot Powder: This powder can absorb oil and grease pretty quickly. Just massage a bit of arrowroot powder on scalp and hair and brush away the excess. People with darker hair can mix equal quantity of cocoa powder and apply on the scalp.
Exfoliate your scalp
“Shocking your hair back to health through scalp exfoliation will help to reset your scalp and help alleviate conditions like dandruff,” says Graciano. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, oil, and dandruff, and is “the key to healthier, shinier hair from roots to ends,” adds Korab.
Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor helps repair damage caused by chlorine and hard water. Key Benefits: This concentrated blend of keratin amino acids, botanical oils, and vitamins does wonders to restore strength and softness to hair that requires a deep, penetrating treatment.
To use, twist cap to the right to open. Use the tri-touch applicator to target scalp areas and gently squeeze to dispense product. Twist to the left to close and empty any remaining product onto scalp. Massage in to scalp and roots, rinse thoroughly.